HOLY MOMENTS

If you know me personally or have read many of my weekly reflections or books, you probably know that I often experience God moments. For me, a God moment is something that happens that reminds me of God’s presence, His love, or His goodness. I describe it as something that can’t just happen by chance but rather is the result of a greater power called God at work.

I believe, and from personal experience, see how these things happen in the ordinary of our days, which I find fascinating. God is so great that He chooses to reveal His glory and goodness in our simple, ordinary lives. He is not just for the elite or those in high power. No, He is there for each of us, His children, made in His image, which He loves so dearly. Seeing these things happen brings me joy and a desire to share them with others so they, too, can be aware of them and see them in their lives.

I recently heard two sermons that inspired this reflection. The pastor called the events, as I described them, holy moments. I think that is a great term for them. Consider the definition of holy from the Oxford Languages Online Dictionary, which says: “dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.” Holy, according to thenivbible.com, defines it as “being separate or set apart.”

 

Have you considered…

…that the word holy does not mean being perfect?

…your life as sacred and dedicated to God?

…that you personally are set apart as God’s chosen one?

…that the ordinary moments in our lives can be holy moments?

 

 

Isn’t it accurate to say that a holy moment is one where the following three characteristics are present?

 

God is present.

“Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.  –Jeremiah 23:23-24  (NLT)

The Lord reminds us all that we can never hide from Him because He is truly everywhere in both heaven and earth. There is no place that God’s power and knowledge does not extend to. God is the only One who is omnipresent, able to be present everywhere!

 

God is actively at work.

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”  –John 5:16-17  (NIV)

We learn that God, Jesus, and the Spirit are always at work on this earth. Isn’t it comforting to know that as we go about our daily lives? How often do we think we are in control of our lives? It is freeing to live knowing that we are not in control. God is!

 

We are totally present and aware.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  –Luke 10:38-42  (NIV)

Isn’t this a perfect story showing us the importance of being totally present in the moment? How often are we distracted, like Martha? When we are distracted, we are not being in the present moment. We take our eyes off of what is most important in life—our relationship with the Lord. Mary, taking time to just be in Jesus’ presence and listening to Him, had her priorities in order. She was totally present, not being distracted, and aware of the most important thing in life.

 

 

 

One special holy moment I experienced this week was the result of God’s orchestration of unusual circumstances. Everything about it was just so God and holy to me. I adjusted my work schedule a bit this week and needed to drop something off at the church I grew up at for a friend. The church was open, so I took the opportunity to go spend a few minutes with the Lord. It was a surprise to hear and see someone playing beautiful music on the pipe organ. I sat there, reminiscing about special encounters I experienced at the church while growing up. I was in awe of the beauty of the church, especially since it was renovated a few years ago. All of the décor is as I remembered it from my childhood. Listening to the music, so loud and powerful, brought tears to my eyes as I sat in God’s presence. When the musician started playing “Amazing Grace,” I couldn’t help but think of how far I’ve come in my spiritual walk through all these years. It was definitely a holy moment with God’s presence, God working in my heart, and taking time to just be, though I was supposed to be somewhere else. I stayed present for about thirty-five minutes, just savoring the beauty of the moment.

God graced me with another holy moment as I was driving to my next destination, assisting someone with paperwork. On the other side of the highway, there was one of the CVS trucks with the big red heart on its cab. I was reminded of God’s great love for me and to share that with others as I offered a prayer of gratitude to Him. A few minutes later, I passed a different kind of CVS truck pulling another one. As I looked in my rear view mirror, that truck had a red heart too! My heart was filled with joy at the double blessing and reminder.

 

Be encouraged this week to…

…take time to reflect or journal on the word holy.

…focus on experiencing God’s presence with you continually.

…thank God for being at work in your life.

…practice being truly present in the moment.

…be more aware of holy moments and share one with someone.

 

Be blessed seeing the ordinary moments turn into holy moments!

 

REFLECTION:

Which of the three characteristics do you need to work on in your life?
What was the last holy moment you experienced as you took time to be present in the moment, not being distracted?

*Please feel free to share any thoughts on the questions in the comment section below. Thanks!

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.  –Romans 8:26-28  (MSG)